Bangkok Car Free Day 2008 tomorrow

Bangkok is going to hold the Car Free Day 2008 to campaign for energy saving on Sunday, September 21, 2008, which is tomorrow! All are invited to join in this mass media event. 42 other provinces in Thailand will also have their own programs taking place at the same time.



The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) joins Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), the Pollution Control Department, Greenpeace Group, and The Mall Group to hold the Car Free Day 2008 event, which will take place at the Thai-Japan Bangkok Youth Center, Din Daeng, near Thai Cultural Centre, Ratchadapisek Road at 10:00 to 18:00. Click here to view the map.

BTS Skytrain is offering free rides on all routes to cyclists on September 21st to 22nd, 2008 between 06:00 to 18:00!

Official website of Bangkok Car Free Day
Official Website of Thai Cycling Club (Event Details in English)
Greenpeace Thailand page for Car Free Day 2008



There will be food and drinks supplied, gifts for participants and an exhibition of biking products and products of Thai Cycling Club (TCC).

Cyclists throughout Bangkok including inner city and suburbs, will meet at 07:00 at the following meeting points with distance to Thai Japanese Stadium:

1. Siam Paragon - 4.08 km
2. The Emporium - 6.88 km
3. Chang Building - 7.23 km
4. Railway Park (Suan Rot Fai / Vajira Benja Thas Park) - 9.26 km
5. Lumphini Park - 9.41 km
6. The Mall Bangkapi - 15.69 km

6 groups of cyclists will meet directly at the Thai-Japanese Stadium to form a map of Thailand.

Program Schedule:
08:00 the National Anthem will be sung after which cyclists will be led to the Thai Japanese Stadium.
09:00 Meet at Thai Japanese Stadium where breakfast will be served.
10:00 Enter stadium with bikes where cyclists will be organized into the map of Thailand which will be photographed from the air
12:00 President’s speech and cyclists form procession
13:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 Discussion
Finish at 18:00 or earlier.



As part of the Bangkok Car Free Day 2007 celebrations last year, the BMA launched a 1,200-bicycle parade on Saturday, 22 September, 2007, aimed at encouraging city people to use bicycles instead of cars and motorcycles and to reduce energy consumption. The bikers wore yellow shirts, and formed into the shape of Thailand, giving a rousing rendition of the national anthem at the National Stadium as part of the launch, presided over by Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin.



Apirak himself rode a bicycle with celebrities and members of the public, forming a procession of over 2,000 along Rama I Road, Rama IV Road, Yaowaraj Road and Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, finishing at the Lan Khon Muang in front of City Hall.

Apirak said the five-year campaign would focus on reducing car use, changing from traditional bulbs to fluorescent lighting, promoting alternative energy, separating and reducing garbage and planting more trees.

The BMA has increased bicycle lanes to 12 on Ramkhamhaeng Road, Arun Ammarin Road and areas around Bang Yi Khan Canal. The city will also help cyclists by dealing with street vendors and other road obstacles, he said.

Chiang Mai city residents also celebrated Car Free Day 2007, holding a bicycle parade from Three Kings Monument Plaza in Muang district to visit tourist attractions in San Kamphaeng district. Chiang Mai gave importance to the campaign after it came out among the top five provinces using the highest amount of petrol at 500 million liters per year with nearly a million cars and motorcycles registered in the province.